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Saturday, May 23, 2015

LOSING REACHES A NEW LOW

It is one thing to lose a game. It is another to get blown out. When you discover – and I use that word intentionally – the Yankees field crew does, in fact, have cards with double digits for the classic-style scoreboard, that is proof that you have reached a new low. For me, there is something haunting about seeing double digits next to the opposition’s name. There is something very haunting about this team right now, which needs correction.

CC Sabathia started out strong in the first two innings, striking out five of the first eight batters he faced. Then the fateful, ugly third inning happened. The first five batters reached on a walk and four consecutive singles. He followed a foul out with a wild pitch and another single, and by then Joe Girardi had seen enough. It was 5-0 at that point, with still a glimmer of hope of a comeback win. Esmil Rogers took care of that. He allowed three of the next four batters to reach while two more runs scored, before giving up a 3-run home run to Shin-Soo Choo which brought them to 10-0. Hope was gone, and the next six innings were just a ceremony.

Some noteworthy items – Prince Fielder, who came into the series with five home runs on the season, has now hit three in the last two games. Seven of Fielder’s 30 RBI on the season came in those two games as well. Also noteworthy is the double switch in the top of the ninth, where Garrett Jones got to pitch and Alex Rodriguez played first base. To his credit, Jones was the only pitcher not to surrender a run this game. It was Alex’s second major league appearance at first base. Finally, in the bottom of the ninth, John Ryan Murphy tripled in a run and came in to score on a groundout. Call me old-fashioned, but I like seeing my team fighting to the last batter, even when they are down by 13. Tomorrow is another day.